Mastering AutoCAD 2005 and AutoCAD LT 2005 -- Acknowledgements -- Contents at a Glance -- Contents -- Introduction -- How to Use This Book -- AutoCAD 2005 and AutoCAD LT 2005 -- Getting Information Fast -- What to Expect -- The Minimum System Requirements -- Doing Things in Style -- What's on the CD? -- New Features of AutoCAD 2005 -- Contact the Author -- Part 1: The Basics -- Chapter 1: This Is AutoCAD -- Taking a Guided Tour -- Working with AutoCAD -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 2: Creating Your First Drawing -- Getting to Know the Draw Toolbar -- Starting Your First Drawing -- Specifying Distances with Coordinates -- Interpreting the Cursor Modes and Understanding Prompts -- Selecting Objects -- Editing with Grips -- Getting Help -- Displaying Data in a Text Window -- Displaying the Properties of an Object -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 3: Learning the Tools of the Trade -- Setting Up a Work Area -- Using the AutoCAD Modes as Drafting Tools -- Exploring the Drawing Process -- Planning and Laying Out a Drawing -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 4: Organizing Your Work -- Creating a Symbol -- Inserting a Symbol -- Modifying a Block -- Grouping Objects -- Organizing Information with Layers -- Keeping Track of Blocks and Layers -- Finding Files on Your Hard Disk -- Inserting Symbols with Drag-and-Drop -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Part 2: Building on the Basics -- Chapter 5: Editing for Productivity -- Creating and Using Templates -- Copying an Object Multiple Times -- Developing Your Drawing -- Drawing Parallel Lines -- Eliminating Blocks, Layers, Line Types, Shapes, and Styles -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 6: Enhancing Your Drawing Skills -- Assembling the Parts -- Taking Control of the AutoCAD Display -- Using Hatch Patterns in Your Drawings -- Understanding the Boundary Hatch Options.

Using External References -- Editing Xrefs in Place -- If You Want to Experiment... -- Chapter 7: Printing, Plotting, and Layouts -- Plotting the Plan -- Understanding the Plotter Settings -- WYSIWYG Plotting Using Layout Tabs -- Setting Color, Line Corner Styles, and Shading Patterns with Plot Styles -- Assigning Plot Styles Directly to Layers and Objects -- Adding an Output Device -- Storing a Page Setup -- Plotter and Printer Hardware Considerations -- Sending Your Drawings to a Service Bureau -- Using Batch and Electronic Plots -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 8: Adding Text to Drawings -- Adding Text to a Drawing -- Understanding Text Formatting in AutoCAD -- Organizing Text by Styles -- What Do the Fonts Look Like? -- Adding Special Characters -- Adding Simple Text Objects -- Using Fields to Associate Text with Drawing Properties -- Adding Tables to Your Drawing -- Using the Check Spelling Feature -- Substituting Fonts -- Finding and Replacing Text -- Accelerating Zooms and Regens with Qtext -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 9: Using Dimensions -- Understanding the Components of a Dimension -- Creating a Dimension Style -- Drawing Linear Dimensions -- Editing Dimensions -- Dimensioning Non-orthogonal Objects -- Adding a Note with an Arrow -- Skewing Dimension Lines -- Applying Ordinate Dimensions -- Adding Tolerance Notation -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Part 3: Becoming an Expert -- Chapter 10: Attributes- Storing Data with Graphics -- Creating Attributes -- Editing Attributes -- Extracting and Exporting Attribute Information -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 11: Copying Pre-existing Drawings into AutoCAD -- Converting Paper Drawings to AutoCAD Files -- Tracing a Drawing -- Importing and Tracing Raster Images -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 12: Power Editing -- Editing More Efficiently.

Using Grips to Simplify Editing -- Using External References ( Xrefs) -- Using the Layout Tabs and Paper Space -- Working with Paper Space Viewports -- Understanding Line Weights, Line Types, and Dimensions in Paper Space -- Managing Layers -- Using Advanced Tools: Filter, Quick Select, and the Calculator -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 13: Drawing Curves and Solid Fills -- Introducing Polylines -- Editing Polylines -- Creating a Polyline Spline Curve -- Using True Spline Curves -- Marking Divisions on Curves -- Sketching with AutoCAD -- Filling In Solid Areas -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 14: Getting and Exchanging Data from Drawings -- Finding the Area of Closed Boundaries -- Getting General Information -- Using the DXF File Format to Exchange CAD Data with Other Programs -- Using AutoCAD Drawings in Desktop Publishing -- Combining Data from Different Sources -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Part 4: 3D Modeling and Imaging -- Chapter 15: Introducing 3D -- Creating a 3D Drawing -- Viewing a 3D Drawing -- Visualizing Your 3D Model -- Getting the 3D Results You Want -- Drawing 3D Surfaces -- Creating and Using Slides -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 16: Using Advanced 3D Features -- Mastering the User Coordinate System -- Creating Complex 3D Surfaces -- Using Other Surface-Drawing Tools -- Editing a Mesh -- Moving Objects in 3D Space -- Viewing Your Model in Perspective -- Adjusting the Camera -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 17: Rendering and Animating 3D Drawings -- Things to Do Before You Start -- Creating a Quick-Study Rendering -- Adding a Background Scene -- Creating Effects with Lighting -- Adding Reflections and Detail with Ray Tracing -- Creating and Adjusting Texture Maps -- Adding a Landscape and People -- Using Other Rendering Output Options -- Reducing Rendering Time for Quick Studies.

Smoothing Out the Rough Edges -- Printing Your Renderings -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 18: Mastering 3D Solids -- Understanding Solid Modeling -- Creating Solid Forms -- Creating Complex Solids -- Editing Solids -- Enhancing the 2D Drawing Process -- Finding the Properties of a Solid -- Taking Advantage of Stereolithography -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Part 5: Customization and Integration -- Chapter 19: Introduction to Customization -- Using Enhancements Straight from the Source -- Using Utilities Available from Other Sources -- Putting AutoLISP to Work -- Using Third-Party Software -- Getting the Latest Information from Online Services -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 20: Integrating AutoCAD into Your Projects and Organization -- Customizing Toolbars -- Customizing Toolbar Tools -- Adding Your Own Pull-Down Menu -- Creating Accelerator Keys -- Understanding the Diesel Macro Language -- Creating Custom Line Types -- Creating Hatch Patterns -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 21: Managing and Sharing Your Drawings -- Sharing Drawings over the Internet -- ePublishing Your Drawings -- Managing Your Drawings with DesignCenter and the Tool Palettes -- Establishing Office Standards -- Converting Multiple Layer Settings -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Chapter 22: Keeping a Project Organized with Sheet Sets -- Understanding Sheet Sets -- Creating a Sheet Set from an Existing Project -- Managing Title Blocks and Cross-References -- Customizing Sheet Sets -- Archiving, Publishing, and eTransmitting Sheet Sets -- Preparing Your Project Files -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Appendix A: Installing and Setting Up AutoCAD -- Before Installing AutoCAD -- Proceeding with the Installation -- Understanding the AutoCAD Program Files -- Configuring AutoCAD -- Configuring the Tablet Menu Area -- Turning On the Noun/Verb Selection Method.

Turning On the Grips Feature -- Setting Up the Tracking Vector Feature -- Adjusting AutoCAD's 3D Graphics System -- Appendix B: Hardware and Software Tips -- The Graphics Display -- Pointing Devices -- Output Devices -- Fine-Tuning the Appearance of Output -- Fine-Tuning PostScript File Export -- Memory and AutoCAD Performance -- AutoCAD Tools to Improve Memory Use -- Setting Up Architectural Desktop to Act like Standard AutoCAD -- When Things Go Wrong -- Appendix C: System and Dimension Variables -- Setting System Variables -- Setting Dimension Variables -- Taking a Closer Look at the Dimension Style Dialog Boxes -- Index -- Bonus Chapter 1: Architectural Solid Modeling -- Villa Savoye: Modeling a Classic Building -- Extruding Walls into the Z-Axis -- Adding a Floor: Punching Holes in Surfaces -- Understanding Surface Intersections -- Using 3D Solids for Architectural Models -- Creating a 3D Elevation with Solids -- Hiding Unwanted Lines in Solids -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Bonus Chapter 2: Advancced Surface Modeling -- Drawing a 3D Stair -- Drawing the Spiral Stair -- Creating Curved Surfaces -- Defining Warped Surfaces with the Edge Surface Tool -- Drawing a Truss -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Bonus Chapter 3: Working with External Databases -- Bonus Chapter 4: Using ActiveX Automation with AutoCAD -- What Is ActiveX Automation? -- The AutoCAD Object Model -- Automation Techniques -- If You Want to Experiment… -- Bonus Chapter 5: Exploring VBA -- Bonus Chapter 6: Using VBA to Create AutoCAD Applications -- Using UserForms -- Adding and Manipulating Controls -- Types of Controls -- Naming Controls -- UserForm Events -- Working with Forms in AutoCAD -- What's Going On? Debugging Support -- Finishing Touches -- If You Want to Experiment….